[Vincenzo]

Took my Spyder to the dealer today to get my track pre-inspection done. Technician found that my left front rim had a flat spot, probably from a pot hole. So, he failed me. Said it would be dangerous at high speed - tire bead could separate from the rim. I had to order a new one at over $2 grand! I really had no choice given the time element involved - Pocono is just over a week away.

I asked if the rim could be repaired. The service tech said the rim would be weakened and he still would not pass me with a repaired rim. Did I just get screwed?

 

[TravisJ]

If time was of the essence, you probably didn't have any other choice.

I would have skipped the track day and spent $2,600 on a set of Iforged track edition rims.

 

[maseratisportgts]

Damn!!!!

Vincenzo, if its for the track, of course they will go over the details thinking of your safety, and safety of others- so if they fail you, you can't go to pocono track? I think you should repair the "flat" rim- I've been told my front rims have flat spots, but I have never felt it when going high speed on the highway at all. And that if they fix it by heating and bending, it would make it weak? I dunno.. the dealer may just say anything sometimes IMO to sell a part, because it just makes it easier, its not their money its yours-

I think you could have gotten a "track only" set of rims, since you love tracking the car, and could have used those for Pocono, and the ride up there. And kept your "bent" rim to get straightened and use it for street.

But, either way, you would have had to spend the money, and since you are cutting it close to track time, its probably better to be safe than sorry. If god forbid something did happen to the tire because of it, then well...

 

[RaCinStylez]

you could get a whole set of aftermarket wheels for that price. Id cancel the order, and put down another 2-3k for a nice set of new rims. You will be a lot happier having a track set of rims, and ones you can use daily.

 

[GregD]

Took my Spyder to the dealer today to get my track pre-inspection done. Technician found that my left front rim had a flat spot, probably from a pot hole. So, he failed me. Said it would be dangerous at high speed - tire bead could separate from the rim. I had to order a new one at over $2 grand! I really had no choice given the time element involved - Pocono is just over a week away.

I asked if the rim could be repaired. The service tech said the rim would be weakened and he still would not pass me with a repaired rim. Did I just get screwed?

By all means keep the rim and have it repaired. You may very well need it in the future.

I had 2 rims repaired when I replaced my first set of tires. Both had slight bends due to potholes. It is pretty common, especially with low profile tires.

I would say by now all four rims are almost square given the condition of our roads in Los Angeles.

 

[Vincenzo]

Thanks guys. I feel a little better about it now that I've slept on it. I think I will keep the 'old' rim (which is spot-on perfect minus the flat spot), get it fixed, and then swap it out at some point with one that has some curb rash on it. I just wish that there was more time before Poconos so I could consider the other options like purchasing track rims. Just not enough time in my sched to hassle with everything at this point.

 

[bundas]

flat spot

call me next time i have 10-12 extra rims. buy them on e-bay when cheap 8596191441. please say hello at pocono, mitchell

 

[guycochran]

Yikes. I thought front wheels were more around $1400 from Ricambi http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=MA&P=&V=diag&I=3729
I'd also check with Special Italian Recycling

 

[drewcwsj]

call me next time i have 10-12 extra rims. buy them on e-bay when cheap 8596191441. please say hello at pocono, mitchell

Good idea to keep an eye on Ebay for spares. Not sure I need 10 spares though

 

[Vincenzo]

call me next time i have 10-12 extra rims. buy them on e-bay when cheap 8596191441. please say hello at pocono, mitchell

Mitch - definitely will do. Hey - now that I think of it, you probably beat me out of a few auctions on ebay for GS rims!

 

[GrndLkNatv]

Yikes. I thought front wheels were more around $1400 from Ricambi http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=MA&P=&V=diag&I=3729
I'd also check with Special Italian Recycling

I found them at Eurospares for 700.00 last year but ended up getting one just for the price of shipping.

 

[Vincenzo]

I found them at Eurospares for 700.00 last year but ended up getting one just for the price of shipping.

$700!

You're killing me! Bend over Vincenzo!

 

[pudgecars]

Hi again YES YOU DID. I hit a pot hole with front 2 rear left tires. MY rims are 20" chrome,I had them repaired for $163 each back to factory specs. This was done in 2 hours. Ilive in Massachusets. But Iam sure there are rim specialists out your way to do the thing.

 

[FormulaDynamics]

This is the fault with the GS Rims... they can be damaged easily and are expensive to replace 1 rim almost equals a set of another quality brand!

Just get out to the track and you'll forget about the rim! In racing this kind of thing happens all the time.

Best Regards,
-- Jeff

 

[Glenn Wallace]

I curbed a rear polished rim pretty hard (first rim I've hit in 20 years, doh!) and I think it was $1800-2000. I may have it repaired but may not put it on the car. On cars like ours that can do 177 or so, do you really want to trust a repaired rim?

 

[Vincenzo]

On cars like ours that can do 177 or so, do you really want to trust a repaired rim?

That was my service advisor's point in talking me through a new rim. Deep down, I know he's right. I just would have rather spent that $$ on some other goodies.

 

[Ramp]

I'm on the fence on whether a mildly "bent" rim can be fixed. Problem is you can't really argue with saftey. The arguments go both ways. But I find it interesting that the dealers repair/refinish rims every day as do all the body shops. There is a wholsesale rim repair/refinisher here that gets most of his business directly from the dealers for MB, BMW, FM, Porsche and Bentley. Point being that the dealers will tell you one thing and out the back door the rim goes for repairs to be resold on their cars.

 

[Vincenzo]

Ramp - that's a valid point. In fact, I'm going to do the same with my bent rim - but use it for a spare. If it bends again, then I'll probably convert it into a cool looking bistro table (with a round glass top) for my garage.

 

[Ramp]

Ramp - that's a valid point. In fact, I'm going to do the same with my bent rim - but use it for a spare. If it bends again, then I'll probably convert it into a cool looking bistro table (with a round glass top) for my garage.

Paint it the same color as your car and put it in the living room for your cocktail served in Maserati glass.

 

[Vincenzo]

Paint it the same color as your car and put it in the living room for your cocktail served in Maserati glass.

ahh...now you're talking!